体坛英语新闻：Ghana to play China in international friendly

ACCRA, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Ghana' s senior national male soccer team, the Black Stars, have lined up an international friendly against China next month, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) announced here on Friday.

The match will be played in Beijing on August 15, the GFA said in a release.

Ghana will use the match as a warm-up for the upcoming 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier at home against Malawi in September as well as the second leg in October in Blantyre to secure a place in the continental tournament due in South Africa early next year.

Ghana trounced Lesotho 7-0 at home on June 1 to begin its 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign on a brighter note.

The West African nation however succumbed 0-1 to African Champions Zambia in Ndola last month in the second round of matches towards the FIFA senior world cup tournament to be held in Brazil next year.

Ghana is ranked 33 in the latest FIFA world ranking while China placed 68th in the June edition of the rankings.